King Lear : Act 3, Scene 5
Enter CORNWALL and EDMUND.
CORNWALL
my revenge my revenge [on Gloucester for aiding King Lear] his house Gloucester's house
1 I will have my revenge ere I depart his house.
EDMUND
How . . . of I am afraid to think of how I may be condemned for letting my loyalty [to you] override my natural bonds [to my father].
2 How, my lord, I may be censured, that nature thus
3 gives way to loyalty, something fears me to think
4 of.
CORNWALL
5 I now perceive, it was not altogether your brother's
his death Gloucester's death
6 evil disposition made him seek his death; but a
provoking merit, set a-work by a reprovable badness in himself i.e., Gloucester's own wickedness deservedly triggered the evil in Edgar ("merit" = evil which merits punishment)
7 provoking merit, set a-work by a reprovable
8 badness in himself.
EDMUND
9 How malicious is my fortune, that I must repent to
10 be just! This is the letter he spoke of, which
approves him an intelligent party to the advantages of France proves him a spy and informer in the aid of France
11 approves him an intelligent party to the advantages
12 of France: O heavens! that this treason were not,
13 or not I the detector!
CORNWALL
14 Go with me to the duchess.
EDMUND
15 If the matter of this paper be certain, you have
16 mighty business in hand.
CORNWALL
17 True or false, it hath made thee Earl of
18 Gloucester. Seek out where thy father is, that he
apprehension arrest
19 may be ready for our apprehension.
EDMUND [Aside.]
stuff his suspicion increase suspicion of him
20 If I find him comforting the king, it will stuff
21 his suspicion more fully.
[To Cornwall.]
21 I will persevere in 22 my course of loyalty, though the conflict be
my blood filial duty
23 sore between that and my blood.
CORNWALL
24 I will lay trust upon thee; and thou shalt find a
25 dearer father in my love.
Exeunt.